Canton council votes on theater Tuesday

A community theater patterned on a Chillicothe effort gets the thumbs up, or down, this week.

A community theater patterned on a Chillicothe effort comes up for a vote Tuesday.

As explained by interim Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development head Missy Towery on May 1, SRPED will sell its option to acquire the Garden Theater to the city for $1. The city would provide $500,000 from tax increment financing funds and $500,000 from a loan, and end up owning the building. Nearly $400,000 more — the estimated amount to finish what may be called the Spoon River Community Theater project — would come from private fundraising. Nearly $200,000 has been raised already.

"We are hopefully going to raise approximately $300,000-plus," Towery said.

If that target isn't hit, the city picks up the difference.

In Chillicothe, the theater is operated by a not-for-profit group and the proceeds are used for youth groups.